Whitsunday councillor Mike Brunker announces resignation

A stalwart Whitsundays councillor and former mayor will ‘ride off into the sunset’ after nearly 30 years of serving in local government. He explains why it’s ‘time to move on’.

Mike Brunker is walking away from local government in the Whitsundays after almost 30 years.

A stalwart Whitsundays councillor is “hanging up the bridle” after nearly 30 years of serving in local government.

Mike Brunker said though he had “enjoyed every minute”, it was “time to move on” as changing rules and legislation were eroding councillors’ powers and he no longer believed he could positively contribute to his community.

“It’s just the not the same as when I first started,” the Division 6 councillor said.

“In the old days we could actually help people.”

Mr Brunker said he was never one to shy away from passionate debate but now, when there were disagreements, people were “very quick” to “dob you in” to the Office of Independent Assessor for breaching conduct.

Despite myriad allegations of breaches being levelled against the veteran councillor over the decades, including in 2023 that he misused council resources, he said they were “like water off a duck’s back”.

“I could wallpaper a wall with (the breaches),” Mr Brunker said, adding the recent breach played no role in his decision to walk away from politics.

“I just think my time’s up, I’ve had enough, get somebody younger in (council), he said.

Councillor Mike Brunker came in second place in the 2022 Whitsunday mayoral election with 46.14 per cent of the vote. Picture: Facebook

Growing up in Collinsville, Mr Brunker became a councillor with the Bowen Shire in 1994, representing the Collinsville division.

Three years later in 1997, he became mayor and would oversee the amalgamation of the shire into Whitsunday Regional Council in 2008.

After Jenny Whitney ousted him as mayor in 2012, Mr Brunker took a four year hiatus before rejoining the council in 2016 as a councillor.

He then twice tried to break into state government, running as Labor’s candidate for Burdekin in 2017 as well as 2020, both times losing to Dale Last.

Former Queensland Premier Palaszczuk, her then deputy Steven Miles (right) and Labor's candidate for Burdekin Mike Brunker (2nd left) tour a mango orchard during a visit to Marto's Mangoes orchard and packing facility near Bowen. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

March 2024 will mark Mr Brunker’s third consecutive term, and his final month, as a councillor.

He said there were many proud moments over the years like convincing the state government to back a new economic development strategy which helped lift the Bowen Shire out of a crisis in the late ‘90s after 2000 jobs were lost with the closure of the meatworks, a mine, and power station; advocating for the missing rail links to Carmichael and Moranbah mines; redeveloping the Bowen foreshore; and negotiating with Baz Luhrmann and co for the filming of Australia.

“Whether you’re in a bar in Bowen with a heap of fishermen or at government house, you have the full spectrum of people that you deal with,” Mr Brunker said.

“And I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

As to what life entails post his “ride off into the sunset” after the March 6 meeting of council, Mr Brunker said he would continue working as a coal sampler in Collinsville and embrace his newly elected position as Bowen Golf Club president.

“My wife Kylie, she’s been with me through and through,” he said.

“She’s quite happy (with my decision).

“No more calls, no more functions.”